NEWS- Wish you were {t}here: Common at JPJ, April 11, 2007

If the first hip-hop show at John Paul Jones was small on audience, it was big on energy. Chicago natives Common and Lupe Fiasco put hip-hop center stage at the Jack and electrified 3,000 or so fans– and the 13,000 empty seats above them as well.

Lupe– whose debut album, Food & Liquor, earned three Grammy nominations– took the stage first, performing a long opening set that ended with a ripping version of his biggest hit, "Kick, Push."

After Lupe wrapped, Common seized the stage, racing back and forth, hell bent on hyping the crowd. Performing tracks from his latest album, Be, he put his heart into the unforgettable soul outro,  "Go," as well as his rendition of "Testify."

Proving he still has the moves to go with his soul, he pulled a young coed up on stage for a little grinding action toward the end of the show.

Uncommon.

Concert-goer and hip-hop promotor Damani Harrison proclaimed the show "amazing."

Rows of empty seats didn't dampen the enthusiasm of fans

Lupe Fiasco had no trouble grabbing attention.

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